Hammond cops release photos in Wal-Mart slaying

January 12, 2010

Hammond police are looking for a man seen with a homicide victim just before the Gary man was found fatally shot last month.

Police have released several photographs of the man they are terming a "person of interest" in the shooting death of Clyde Lee, 46, on Dec. 22 in his van in a Wal-Mart parking lot, 1828 165th St., in Hammond.

The man police want to question was last seen walking out of the Wal-Mart with Lee, just before a Wal-Mart cart clerk and security guard found Lee in the back of his van in the parking lot of the store about 10 p.m. that evening, said Hammond Police Detective John Suarez.

Those who found Lee at first thought he had passed out or had been hit. Iit was only after paramedics arrived and moved him that they realized he had been shot, Suarez said.

The man police want to question is black and was wearing a black leather jacket and a black knit cap when he was seen with Lee. He appears to be in his mid to late 30's, Suarez said.

Police say the man was driving a blue-green supercab pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet, according to Suarez. The color was used for the truck models from 1992-1999; police are uncertain if the truck has Indiana or Illinois license plates.

Police asked that anyone with information about the man they are seeking to call them at 219-852-2906.